The Press., 1887-12-15
GRIT TELLS.
AN IMMENSE BUSINESS, AND WHAT MAD

place, or an article, we are apt to have our curiosity aroused enough to inquire about the name, see the place or try the article. To see, Is to better describe, and the con- stant repetition of the name of the firm, the description of whose immense estab- lishment comprises this article, led your correspondent to inspect the mammoth structures occupied by those popular house furnishers, B. A. Atkinson & Go.
 Byron A. Atkinson was born in Sack vile, New Brunswick, and is 34 years of age. When 12 years old he left home. to follow the sea and made number of foreign voyages, sailing mostly from London and Liverpool, England. Glasgow, Scotland, and St. John. New Brunswick, and al- though his seafaring life lasted but about 6 years, he visited different parts of Europe. Asia, Africa, Australia, East and West the completion of one of his voyages he found himself in New York, and being about IS years of age he was advised to go to Boston and learn the machiuist trade, which he did. Arriving in Boston on St Patrick's day in the morning, March IT., 1870. On the following Monday he went to work for S. A. Woods, large and pros porous machinist in South Boston. Here he worked constantly for about three years and left the machine shop to embark in business for himself, carrying with him the best wishes of his employers and all his shop mates, who have to a considerable extent patronized him ever since.
 He commenced business June g, 1873, under the name and style of B. A. Atkin. son & Co.,, ill an old wooden building on the corner of Shawmut avenue and Pleas ant street, where they dealt in second- hand furniture, made over hair mattresses, and took great pride in the neat manner in which they repaired and made old fur niture look as good as new. By diligent application to their work, their business increased to such an extent that in the early months of 1879 the foundations of a large brick building, to be occupied by them, was laid, and on May of the same year they moved in. This building served them for about three years, when they leased the Bartlett building, which adioins the one they had erected. These two buildings were occupied by them for about 8 year longer, when the rapid strides which they had made in their business caused them to again look around for more room
 Nassau Hall building an immense struct- ure situated on the corner of Common and Washington streets, was their selection this time, and as the building contained 102, ,550 square feet of floor room, they naturally thought that they would have all the room they would need for many years to come. They opened in this location March l, 1888, with what was considered one of the finest stocks of complete house furnishings in Boston. Continuing their phenomenal ca. reer, they fast outgrow even this building, and early in the present year they obtained the large building adjoining Nassua Hall which is known as Turne Hall building. This accession to their establishment gave them four more large, airy show. rooms, and they were able to show the largest stock oi any concern in the New England States. Finding themselves still handicapped fol room, they have erected, in the rear of the above two buildings, a magnificent story structure, containing about an acre of room on each floor. This building is furnished with an elegant passenger and two freight elevators. The connections between the three buildings are perfect, and you can pass from one building to another without knowing just when you do it. These three buildings contain nearly ten acres of floor room, and the firm of B. A. Atkinson & Go. are conceded to have the largest establish ment devoted to the retail house furnish. ing business in the United States.
 l & Go. are to be found on the corner oi Shawmut avenue and Pleasant street, car. rying on a large business in the building which they erected in 1879, under the name and style of the Shawmut Furniture Go.
 The name of B. A. Atkinson & Go. has become a household word all over the eastern states, from which has emanated the Atkinson House Furnishing Co.,, with it's main offices and ware houses in Port. land, Maine, and large branches in all the principal cities and towns.
 Their growth has been surprising, and to buy of them once is to buy of them always, for they use their customers so that when they are in want of goods a second time they think of but one firm, and that is B. A. Atkinson & Go.
 The first floor of the Nassua Hall build. ing is devoted to display of stoves, ranges etc. Here are shown all styles and grades of parlor and cook stoves, low-priced, me. dium and high grade ranges, copper tin, and nickel plated kitchenware, etc., ir great variety. In the rear of this show room is their mammoth carpet floor, or which are displayed all kinds of carpets, rugs, mattings, etc. Here may be found all grades and all styles, from the cheaI Chinese maGGlDR co the cuOlceSb BeleCtlOnk from the Orient; and when the floor is more or less covered with carpets, pending the selection by the many customers who continuously throng this as we'll as other departments, the eye is dazzled by the multiplicity of colors and the elegance oi designs. As your gaze sweeps over tho beautiful fabrics, it would seem as if some bower of roses had been strewn over thus one floor, so realistic are the patterns. One also sees the somber-hued, dark, rich colored carpets that are used in libraries and in some parlors. The contrast is strih ing, and one that will not be forgotten in many years. Of rugs and mats they seem to have a supply and variety that would supply the wants of whole city. Stuff cient to say, that the carpet and rug de partment of this concern is immense be- yond description, and would well repay ( visit from all who are interested in tha which is beautiful in the weaver's art.
 Up one flight in the Turn Hall building are located the offices. These occupy tho whole of this floor. They are fitted up ir plain but substantial manner, and the small army of clerks and book, keepers em ployed give you an inkling of the immense business the firm must do to keep thiI great number of people at work. On this floor is also located the private office of B 1 A. Atkinson, of whom it is said "Ht